"I think what we have to do really is wait and see with the Marquis situation, how long that will be," Rivers told reporters prior to Monday’s game in Charlotte. "If that’s long then we have to do something. We have to get another [swingman] let’s just be serious."

The effects of this lack of depth were made obvious in the second quarter when Boston was forced to go to a backcourt of Rajon Rondo (a generous 6-foot-1) and Nate Robinson (5-foot-9) against Charlotte’s Shaun Livingston (6-foot-7) and Gerald Henderson (6-foot-5), with Ray Allen at small forward.

"It happens," Rivers said. "Like I told our guys, there's nothing you can do about it. You've got to go out and play. Tonight, there will be a couple of guys playing spots -- especially at the 3 -- someone’s going to play the 3 that’s never played it before. That’s just where we’re at right now.

"You've got to keep rolling, there's nothing you can do about it. I try not to live in the past, the what ifs. I guarantee you Charlotte could care less. The game is scheduled, it will be played. I tell our guys that all the time. We can’t worry about it, we've got to keep playing.